Watch: Dancing With the Stars’ Surprise Elimination Twist Revealed Ahead of Season 35 Premiere
Dancing With the Stars is waltzing into a new season with a brand-new set of voting rules.
During the Sept. 15 premiere, host Alfonso Ribeiro revealed that fans have to be extra specific when voting during season 35 because the cast includes two stars with the same name: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ ConnerLeavitt, who is paired with AdeleZaikman, and comedian ConnorWood, who is paired with RyleeArnold.
“This is important since we have two stars with the same first name,” Ribeiro explained at the top of the episode. “For these two stars—and only these two—you have to include the first letter of their last name when you text. To vote for Conner Leavitt and Adele, text Conner L. To vote for Connor Wood and Rylee, text Connor W.”
He confirmed that first names are still acceptable for text voting for all the other contestants, including their fellow male stars EzraFrench, GuillermoRodriguez, Harry Shum Jr., JacksonOlson, Taylor Hanson and TylerCameron whoare competing during the night one premiere.
Another big voting change for the premiere episode? CohostJulianne Hough shared an update later on that voting was down on the ABC website, leading DWTS to throw out all online votes for the episode and base results solely on texts.
Ribeiro noted, “Please make sure to text all of your votes for tonight and tonight only.”
“That was a switch up,” he exclaimed, to which Hough replied, “Did we break it with the voting? This is kinda rad.”
Ribeiro quipped, “We’re breaking stuff around here.”
Disney/Matt Sayles
Still, even with voting troubles, the show didn’t miss a beat as the male contestants danced their hearts out to a Billboard number one hit from the year of their birth.
Olson, a Savannah Banana player, took to the stage first, dancing the Cha-Cha to the Spice Girls’ 1996 hit “Wannabe” with partner EmmaSlater, earning a combined 15 points from judges CarrieAnnInaba, BrunoTonioli and DerekHough.
“Remember, the judges did mention that they are gonna start a little bit lower with scores,” Hough explained. “So nobody should be freaking out just yet.”
To see all the stars competing to take home the famed mirror ball trophy on season 35 of Dancing With the Stars, keep reading.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Disney/Andrew Eccles
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